GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Wolverine-Hooiser Athletic Conference released their preseason poll, and the Golden Eagles are projected to finish fifth in the 2017-18 season. Cornerstone gets set to begin WHAC play this weekend at Lawrence Tech. CU will then finish out the fall with home series vs. Madonna and Concordia. This weekend's series at LTU will have live video and stats available that can be viewed through cugoldeneagles.com.
Opponent: Lawrence Tech
Dates: Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 (DH)
Times: 9/22 – 6 p.m. & 9/23 – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
Location: Southfield, Mich.
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats
Preseason Poll Details
The defending conference champions and 11
th ranked Northwestern Ohio Racers have been selected to repeat as WHAC champions in 2017-18. UNOH finished with an astounding 28-1 conference record last season, giving them 11 first place votes in the preseason poll. Indiana Tech, Concordia, and Madonna were picked to finish second through fourth respectively, while Cornerstone comes in at fifth in the poll. The top six teams will compete in the conference tournament at the end of the season.
Season Opener Recap
The Golden Eagles began the 2017-18 campaign last Saturday with a game vs. Calvin College that they won 8-1. Some of the new starters in the Cornerstone lineup had big days in the season opener, as junior
Gabe Zeiger went 3-4 with 3 RBI and junior
Dustin DeBeau went 2-4 with 2 RBI. Cornerstone combined for 15 hits in the game, while the pitching trio of
Kyle Herrick,
Collin Young, and
Noah Reed recorded 11 strikeouts with no earned runs.
Key Returners
The Golden Eagles return nearly their entire lineup from the 2016-17 season, graduating just three players from the varsity roster in
Jonny Abbadusky,
Evan Wagner, and
Seth Reigner. The entire pitching staff returns for the 2017-18 season, along with all starting infielders. This along with the additions of six freshman and two transfers is an encouraging site for success in 2017-18.
Scouting Lawrence Tech
The Blue Devils are set to begin their second season of having a baseball program with a three game series vs. Cornerstone. LTU, who has just four seniors on the varsity roster, coming off a 13-34, 6-24 WHAC record in their inaugural season last year. Lawrence Tech played their first ever games at Cornerstone last season, and where swept in a three game series by the Golden Eagles.
